City Tower, Manchester Piccadilly

Visited by Ojay.

I have had my eye on this place for some time, and after 1 failed attempt I decided to give it another go, I suppose where there's a will there's a way and after already having a close encounter with security this week I wasn't going to hang around either.

The amount of masts etc up there sure worried me, the thought of being stood inside a giant microwave.
With that in mind I took a few pictures and got down just as quick.

Some facts:

City Tower, (formerly known as the Sunley Building) is a 30 storey office block situated at Piccadilly Gardens in Manchester. It is currently the third tallest building in Manchester, with the highest office space currently available in Manchester (City Tower is expected to fall to eighth tallest building by 2012), standing 107 m (351 ft) tall. City tower was completed in 1965, the Plaza complex having been constructed by the developers Bernard Sunley and designed by Covell, Matthews & Partners. Now home to Bruntwood and a dozen other businesses.

It has entrances onto York Street renamed in 2008 New York Street and Piccadilly Gardens. Over the years, the tower became increasingly run down and as a result many tenants left. A refurbishment programme was drawn up in the late 1990s, but this was never realised until property company Bruntwood purchased Piccadilly Plaza for £65 million in 2004. This plan is complete, with a new central ground floor entrance. The next phase involved repainting and fitting an atrium to the sides of the tower. An advertising screen has been erected showing full motion video clips to passers by in the gardens.
The tower is one of Manchester's main broadcast transmission sites, hosting the antennas of local radio stations XFM, Rock Radio and Galaxy on FM as well as digital radio multiplexes Digital One, BBC, MXR North West and CE Manchester.

The penthouse floor (floor 28) is different to all the other floors in the building as it originally had a walkway around the perimeter; when Bruntwood acquired the City Tower it was removed.

Some of the iconic buildings and views of Manchester, which need no introductions

Oh my days

Manchester Town Hall & Clock Tower, 2010

Visited By Ojay.

Completed in 1887, this most impressive neo-Gothic building cost a million pounds and is acknowledged as a masterpiece in its own right. It rises as a Victorian edifice - a monument to the civic pride of the city fathers, reaching 286 feet above Albert Square below.

Designed by Alfred Waterhouse, a leading contemporary architect, it was fitted masterfully onto an awkward triangular space - although not unanimously liked as the best looking design, it proved the most practical of the 136 other designs entered. Manchester had achieved city status in 1853, and was keen to show off its civic dignity. Inside it is lavishly and richly decorated, with mosaic floors bearing the "bees", symbols of Manchester's industry, and has wall murals by Ford Madox Brown.

At the front main entrance, a statue of the Roman Governor, Agricola, surveys the square. He had founded the original fort of Mamuciam, from which the city began, and is thus honoured by a statue over the main front entrance to the Town Hall.

The building dominates Albert Square, with its monument to Queen Victoria's consort, and statues of some of Manchester's great men. - Manchester UK.

I was here earlier in the year on 'other business'.

Whilst inside there seemed to be a bit of fuss, and I accidently one of the upper floors amongst the chaos!


It's quite a large building, almost maze like, I had a good old mooch before being asked to leave :D

On with some pics.....

Non-Public

A curious doorway appeared to open with a quick shove ;)

Tick-Tock

Continuing up the spiral stairwell for what seemed like an age,

A.N other door....

The bells

Hammer time

I thought it would be a good idea to wait until the hour...talk about ear piercings

Looking up into the Spire

Albert Square

Courtyard

Some nice features up here

And some decent views

Thanks for looking :)

Pear Mill Chimney Climb

Ojay, Bigjobs, Over & Skydiver present.

Pear Mill, Stockport, The architects were A.H. Stott & Sons and the building is typical of their work of that period both in terms of construction, with concrete floors, and detailing. The power plant was a Manhattan type steam engine by George Saxon, driving the machinery via a rope drive.

With production starting in 1913 it was one of the last remaining cotton mills to be built. The mill had 137,312 mule spindles which remained until the 1950s when they were replaced by 33,636 ring spindles, the mill being electrified at the same time. It ceased operation as a textile mill in March 1978.

Before I start, Biggup to Bigjobs & Over for making this possible, not to mention total respect for Skydiver for recently making it up here too.

I made a comment earlier in the week "This is something I would dream to achieve one day"

What are the chances.....

Imagine earlier the very same day I found myself up a chimney with Stepping Lightly which gave me a taste of what was to come (Cheers Dude).

A few comedy moments earlier in the night and much patience from Over whilst Jobs provided the crash course in SRT (LOL).

Anyway all that out of the way, it was now time to climb this 200ft chimney (SHIT). This has to be the most courageous attempt at anything I have ever imagined doing.

The Chimney
(Credits to Skydiver)

It was to be a long day, and nite, and almost the next day!

Just as we arrived the secca's had been doing the rounds, this nearly prompted all plans to be aborted, however we waited and waited and waited a bit more before deciding to go for it and not give a crap if we get caught Ha Ha.

Off Jobs & Over go to setup, obviously there is more to getting up this chimney than just starting from the base, with Skydiver keeping lookout, it was now my turn, "Ojay, Ojay" security! Fuck, I was lit up like a christmas tree with nowhere to hide, FFS.

I could hear the guard walking towards me and waving his torch about like a T**T, I was convinced he had seen me, I would now have some serious explaining to do and carry the can for all concerned if caught.

Both Bigjobs & Over were looking down at me helplessley from the roof whilst I stooped in well lit corner, praying I wouldn't be spotted. The bloke appeared in front of me and started muttering. One look to the right and the dream is over, then as if things couldn't get any worse, out of nowhere appears this bloody great German shepard which was now staring right at me. At this point I was bricking it as failure appeared immenent...

Miraculously after what seemed like an eternity he walked on, after much waiting around the time had come again to get up this beast.

Over disappeared off into the night sky to fix up the rope, last minute nerves and all that, it was now time for me to ascend, this was going to be one hell of a climb on possibly the most dodgiest set of ladders I have ever seen. There is a good reason why they remove the bottom set of ladders, and there is also a good reason why it's put back when the 'officials' climb it.

Ages seemed to go by and I managed to get halfway, as I took a few minutes to look around, the ladders slipped about an inch or two, scary shit and much farting proceeded. Onwards and upwards it was, my arms now aching like hell. Finally I could see Over at the top stood there without a care in the world, crazy man, but he loves it and he's a pro.

After what seemed like hours but in reality was about 15-20 minutes I was stood at the top, 200ft up next to him admiring the views, it was a full moon and the stars were out, belter.

I didn't have the balls to get my camera out, so I got Over to take a quick shot of me before chilling for a while and pysching myself up for the descent back down which was a combination of srt, climbing and abseiling. I took a rest at the pear level whilst I waited for Over, then we finally made it back down, packed up and fooked off sharpish before the guard decided to do the rounds once again with that lovely dog!

Looking up to pear level, and the ladders that we needed to get to.....

From the top, lovely views, now get me down! (Thanks to Over)

Looking down, Picture Credits to Big Jobs & Over

Looking down at the 'Pear'

A big thanks to everyone concerned for making this possible

Arrow Mill Chimney, Rochdale

Visited by Ojay, being Repaired by Stepping Lightly.

Thanks to Stepping Lightly for making this possible. I knew I had to climb a 200ft chimney later in the day, and as I had never been up one before I had the opportunity to get up the top of one of these beasts today to admire the views, and see if I was comfortable with being sat on top of a chimney.

It's a bit uneasy at over 200ft up sat on top of a chimney, that I can assure you, even tho I was well and truly clipped on the feeling of falling off is forefront of the mind. Even been hoisted up by the crane is an odd sensation, swinging around in the wind!

I'm glad I did this now, as it certainly helped me with what I had to tackle later on, and the views were ace from up here, shame I couldn't have stayed longer.

Anyway on with a few pics...

Up and away

Top of chimney

Inside

Looking down

Pano

Rochdale

Mill

Crane

Moi

Stepping Lightly